★世界初！ジャパニーズウイスキーボトラーズ設立プロジェクト
camp-fire.jp/projects/view/403368

Outline

Maltoyama, a single malt whisky specialist, will start the world’s first independent Japanese whisky bottler business as a joint project “T & T TOYAMA” with Saburomaru Distillery, Wakatsuru Shuzo. We will construct an aging warehouse within Toyama Prefecture, use high-quality casks to mature distillates entrusted by the distilleries, and release single cask whiskies.

Who we are

I am Tadaaki Shimono, the owner of Maltoyama, online store specialized in single malt whisky. I am the representative of the joint project “T & T TOYAMA”.

When I was a college student at the age of 20, I became fascinated by the world of whisky when I was favored to compare several drams by a customer who happened to be there next to me at a bar in Utsunomiya, which is renowned for bar and cocktail.

Since then, I enjoyed visiting distilleries in Japan and Scotland as a hobby, and took whisky educational courses. In 2013, I obtained a sales license as a liquor store and established a single malt whisky online shop “Maltoyama”. It sells mainly a single cask (a whisky bottled from one single cask) and a cask strength (a whisky which is not diluted with water and has proof straight out of a barrel) single malt whisky(a whisky produced at one distillery and has its own distinctive character) in private bottles. They are most popular out of single malt whiskies and attract many whisky enthusiasts. Only 200 bottles of single cask & cask strength whisky can be produced from one barrel and the taste is the one and only, varies by barrel.

Maltoyama has selected and released more than 40 private bottlings, which have been enjoyed by many enthusiasts and bartenders.

What is the project “T & T TOYAMA”?

The project “T & T TOYAMA” was launched to promote Japanese whisky from Toyama prefecture by Tadaaki Shimono and Takahiko Inagaki of Saburomaru Distillery, Wakatsuru Shuzo, by establishing the independent Japanese whisky bottlers business.

In respect to the long-established Scottish independent bottlers, we named “T & T TOYAMA” after taking the T of Tadaaki Shimono and T of Takahiko Inagaki.

As T & T TOYAMA, we have already selected and released Scotch single cask whiskies, and in 2020 we have released 5 bottlings as “Nymph” series, all of which were sold out on the same day, and have received high praise.

What we want to achieve in this project

The project “T & T TOYAMA Bottlers Project” is to purchase newly made spirits from Japanese craft whisky distillery and have it filled in a special casks procured by us and have it stored at newly constructed warehouse in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture. As the world’s first independent Japanese whisky bottlers business, we will determine the maturation peak of each cask and have it released as single cask & cask strength whisky

Except for the procurement of a raw distillate and maturation, sampling and bottling will be proceeded with the equipment owned by Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd with the cooperation of Mr. Takahiko Inagaki, the manager and blender of Saburomaru Distillery, Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd. In addition, we are planning to start providing cask storage space and bottling facilities. The aim is to contribute to the development of the Japanese whisky industry by providing platform for storing newly made spirits and casks, aging, and bottling for those who want to start whisky business in Japan.

In addition, as done by the Scottish distilleries and the long-established Scottish bottlers, we will build a close relationship so that we can release products that are officially certified by the distillery and are positioned as semi-distillery bottling, even though they are bottled by independent bottlers.
We would like to grow as independent bottler that can contribute to the improvement of the brand value of distillery.

The trigger of the project

In the global whisky boom, Japanese whisky is highly praised for its finely divided distillate making and blending skills by each distillery. In addition, there are many brands that receive worldwide acclaim due to their unique craftsmanship and usage of casks made of wood unique to Japan, such as Mizunara Oak (Quercus Crispula), and their popularity is becoming endless.

As a result, the number of whisky distilleries, which was only 9 in 2014, is expected to exceed 34 as of 2021 and 40 in the near future. And in 2020, Japanese whisky overtook Sake and became the number one exporting Japanese liquor. It can be said that whisky has become one of Japan’s leading alcoholic beverages in overseas markets.

On the other hand, Japanese whisky industry does not have independent bottler.

In Scotland, the home of whisky, the independent bottlers have been around for over 150 years, and bought newly made spirits from the distilleries, which allowed them to stabilize their business condition and improve their quality. Distilleries and independent bottlers have survived the dark period together, helping each other, especially when the whisky industry is in recession and in trouble.

The core range products which are diluted and blended released by the distillery and the small-volume products such as the single cask and cask strength released by the independent bottlers play a complementary role as a lineup. Sometimes bottlers have released unique bottling that are not bound by the house style of the distillery, which makes a wide variety of products for the whole industry.

We believe that launching the world’s first independent Japanese whisky bottlers will lead to the creation of new value for Japanese whisky. We would like to work with you to build the future of Japanese whisky.

Partner Distilleries

The distilleries which will support this project are as follows at present. There are several distilleries under negotiation. We will continue to build long-term partnerships with distilleries that make great whiskies.

・Eigashima Distillery (Eigashima Shuzo CO., LTD.)
・Osuzuyama Distillery (Kuroki Honten Co., Ltd.)
・Ontake Distillery (Nishi Sake Brewing Co., Ltd)
・Kanosuke Distillery (Komasa Jozo Co., LTD)
・Sakurao Distillery (Sakurao Brewery & Distillery Co., Ltd.)
・Saburomaru Distillery (Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd.)

Environment for maturing in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture

Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, where the aging warehouse for the “T & T TOYAMA Bottlers Project” is planned to be constructed, is a famous area for villages surrounded by rice fields and dotted with old houses. The nature is very rich, the air is clean, and there are many rice fields at the foot of the mountain, therefore the humidity is kept moderate throughout the year and the temperature is relatively stable, which we think it is the best environment for maturing whisky slowly.

Inami Town, Nanto City, is famous for its traditional wood carving and woodworking crafts, and there are craftsmen who can manufacture and repair whisky casks. They are already making casks using local Mizunara from Nanto City. Craftsmanship of casks, which plays a major role for aging whiskies, and trees growing naturally suitable for casks are also the reasons for constructing an aging warehouse in this area. ..

Single cask whisky matured in specially toasted bourbon barrel will be used for the rewards.

Single cask whisky used for the rewards of this crowdfunding will be matured in the specially toasted bourbon barrels of which carbonized layer inside is scraped off and carefully toasted by a cooper in Nanto City. Unlike charring, which raises a flame at once, toasting requires exquisite temperature control, therefore craftsmanship is required.

Overview of aging warehouse.

The aging warehouse can store approx. 3000 casks, and only the passage is made of concrete, and the area where the casks will be placed is a soil floor, therefore can maintain humidity.

Future releases

As T & T TOYAMA, the whisky will be matured for minimum 3 years and will be released as single cask at cask strength after judging the maturation peak. Taking advantage of the experience gained through the selection of numerous whiskies released as Maltoyama and T & T TOYAMA, we will provide variety of styles, by judging the maturation peak such as distillery character, influence of cask, overall balance.

The series name is “Breath of Japan”. The motif of irises, which are loved in Japan as an apotropaic magic and a lucky charm, is drawn by “@whiskybottlesi” (*The design is provisional)

Partner Companies

These are the retailers and importers who will support this project.

・KIMURA. Co. Ltd
・Kyoto Fine Wine and Spirits
・Shinanoya (Shinanoya Shokuhin, CO., LTD.)

Greeting from Inagaki Takahiko of Saburomaru Distillery, co-founder:

The Japanese whisky regulation was first announced in 2021, and I personally wondered how Japanese whisky should develop in the future. Scotland, which has the roots of Japanese whisky, has many distilleries that make unique whisky, while in Japan until recently, a small number of major producers accounted for most of the production.

And now the situation is changing with the birth of the craft whisky distilleries. However, Japanese craft whisky has just sprouted and it will take some time before it blooms. Scotland has a culture of exchanging casks and the presence of bottlers, and has a history of expanding the whisky industry as a whole.（https://www.wakatsuru.co.jp/archives/2473）

Although Japan has rules, it does not have an industrial structure like Scotland because there are no cask exchanges nor independent bottlers. Helping each other is needed for a small distillery to grow. Under such circumstances, I have exchanged casks with Nagahama Distillery and released first ever Japanese blended malt whisky among two companies.

We believe that launching the world’s first independent Japanese whisky bottlers at T & T TOYAMA is indispensable for ensuring the diversity of Japanese whisky distilleries and making them more attractive.
We need your support in order to greatly expand the potential of the craft whisky distillery that has begun to sprout.
Please help us for the future of Japanese whisky!

Reward

★Share cask owner + T & T Premium Membership set 　55,000yen　OUT OF STOCK

T&T TOYAMA Premium Membership● Share cask owner’s certificate for 1 bottle of 700ml single malt whisky, selected from Eigashima Distillery, Ontake Distillery, Kanosuke Distillery, Sakurao Distillery, Saburomaru Distillery

●Posting your name on the back label

●One original glass with the T & T TOYAMA logo

●One original T-shirt with the T & T TOYAMA logo

●Posting your name on the wall of the aging warehouse and on the T & T TOYAMA website

Premium members have the following benefits:

Invitation to the establishment commemorative party (to be held in Toyama Prefecture)

Invitation to a special tour of the aging warehouse

Badge of membership

Special tasting of whisky etc. at events.

For details, please refer to each reward.

Eigashima Distillery is a distillery from Eigashima Shuzo CO., LTD in Akashi City, Hyogo Prefecture, which is known for its Japanese sake “Kamitaka”, and has been making whisky for a long time.
The distillery is famous for using not only general bourbon barrels and sherry casks but also various casks for aging and finishing. The quality of the newly made spirit itself has been greatly improved and refined due to the new staff being involved in the production.
Although it may not be known, Eigashima Distillery is a distillery near the sea, and they age whisky in the warm weather of the Seto Inland Sea. I am looking forward to seeing the different cask influence compared to distillery bottlings by aging in a different environment at the foot of the mountain in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, where the temperature and humidity are more stable.

Ontake Distillery is a distillery of Nishi Sake Brewing Co., Ltd in Kagoshima Prefecture, which is known for the popular sweet potato shochu, Houzan (Tomino Houzan, Kichicho Houzan, etc.). “Tenshi no Yuwaku (Temptation of Angels)”, known for its maturing in a sherry cask, is also a product of Nishi Sake Brewing. They have implemented their making and aging know-how at Ontake Distillery, and their policy is to use sherry cask for maturation.

Not only scientific verification and knowledge, but also President Mr. Nishi’s own taste buds lead to the ideal whisky making. I was very surprised by his keen sense and sensibility when tasting with him. The newly made spirit has also evolved dramatically in a short period of time, and is in right track, profound, and very beautiful.

I am looking forward to tasting difference by using specially toasted bourbon barrels and maturing in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, since distillery bottlings are normally matured in sherry casks.

Kanosuke Distillery is a distillery of Komasa Jozo Co., LTD, a major shochu maker in Kagoshima Prefecture.

They have been making barrel-aged rice shochu called “Mellow Kozuru”. The know-how of making and barrel aging of various liquors such as sweet potato shochu and barley shochu is utilized in the making and maturing at Kanosuke Distillery. In addition, they have been devised in making the variation of newly made spirit by installing three pot stills.
Though the whisky is made by President Mr. Komasa, a hot-blooded man, the distillate has the calmness of Scotland’s Southern Highland Malt and Lowland Malt, and makes you feel the sprout of fruitiness.
I am looking forward to seeing what kind of character of newly made spirit can be brought out at the aging warehouse in Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture, which is different from the environment of the aging warehouse at the distillery facing the sea in Kagoshima, a tropical country.

Chugoku Jozo was renamed “Sakurao Brewery & Distillery Co., Ltd.” recently. Though there may be a strong image of Sakurao making gin, they are also serious about making single malt whisky.
Whisky enthusiasts might be more familiar with the blended whisky “Togouchi Whisky” which has been released from them.
They are unique for distilling with a hybrid still made by Arnold Holstein, and their newly made spirit have a relatively light and fresh character. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the newly matured spirit grow.

Saburomaru Distillery is a distillery of Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd. located in Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture. In 1952, due to shortage of rice for making sake after the war, they have started making whisky. In 2017, the distillery was renewed with the funds raised by crowdfunding.

Mr. Inagaki, who is also the co-founder of this project, is in charge of production. Since 2017, they have introduced new equipment and ingenuity every year, and the quality of the spirit has evolved dramatically year by year.

In 2019, they have developed and introduced “ZEMON”, a cast pot still which is patented, and is attracting worldwide attention.

Their policy is to make very smoky spirit, which is rare in distilleries in Japan. Currently, peated malt from Islay is used to make newly made spirit with even more smoky and complex flavors.

Share cask ownership for 5 distilleries + T & T premium member set 220,000 yen　OUT OF STOCK

●T&T TOYAMA Premium Membership

●Share cask owner’s certificate for 1 bottle of 700ml single malt whisky from five distilleries: Eigashima Distillery, Ontake Distillery, Kanosuke Distillery, Sakurao Distillery, Saburomaru Distillery

●Posting your name on the back label

●One original glass with the T & T TOYAMA logo

●One original T-shirt with the T & T TOYAMA logo

●Posting your name on the wall of the aging warehouse and on the T & T TOYAMA website

Premium members have the following benefits.

Invitation to the establishment commemorative party (to be held in Toyama Prefecture)

Invitation to a special tour at the aging warehouse

Badge of membership

Special tasting of whisky etc. at events.

For details, please refer to each reward.

* Bottles for share cask owners can only be shipped within Japan. It cannot be shipped overseas or change address.

* If the bottle cannot be prepared due to unavoidable circumstances such as leakage or damage of the cask due to the nature of the whisky cask, we will prepare a substitute with the same specifications.

* If the contracting party fails to meet its obligations due to force majeure beyond its control, such as natural disasters, terrorism, war, or political instability, no liability for delay in performance will arise.

* Other details will be stated on the share cask owner ‘s card.

★Posting your name on the T & T TOYAMA website 6,000 yen

★Posting your name on the wall of the aging warehouse and T & T TOYAMA website Set 12,000 yen

Posting your name on the T & T TOYAMA website
Posting your name on the wall of the aging warehouse

★ Posting on the corporate name board (individuals are also acceptable) 100,000 yen

For corporations (companies / organizations), posting name of the corporation on the wall of the aging warehouse.

* Also available for the individuals. Your name will be posted larger than the other rewards.

Posting your name on the T & T TOYAMA website

Invitation to the establishment commemorative party (to be held in Toyama Prefecture)

★Naming right for aerial work platform set 300,000 yen　OUT OF STOCK

●Naming right for aerial work platform to be used in the aging warehouse.

* Naming right is limited to which does not violate public order and morals and that do not infringe on the trademark rights of others.

●T&T TOYAMA Premium Membership

●Posting your name on the back label

●One original glass with the T & T TOYAMA logo

●One original T-shirt with the T & T TOYAMA logo

●Posting your name on the wall of the aging warehouse and on the T & T TOYAMA website

Premium members have the following benefits.

Invitation to the establishment commemorative party (to be held in Toyama Prefecture)

Invitation to a special tour of the aging warehouse

Badge of membership

Special tasting of whisky etc. at events.

For details, please refer to each reward.

How to use the funds

The usage of the funds collected by this crowdfunding is as follows:
・ Construction fund for aging warehouse
・ Funds for purchasing Japanese newly made spirits
・ Cost for preparing a rewards

Implementation schedule

March 2021 Started negotiations to purchase newly made spirits
May 2021 Started crowdfunding
October 2021 Start construction of aging warehouse
December 2021 Start shipping rewards.
April 2022 Complete construction of the aging warehouse
Start maturation of newly made spirits
2025 and after Release products

In the end

Your support is essential for us to start the world’s first Japanese whisky independent bottler business.

We look forward to your warm supports.

★世界初！ジャパニーズウイスキーボトラーズ設立プロジェクト
camp-fire.jp/projects/view/403368